logicvslogicalWhat's the difference?

Which to use

“logic” and “logical” are a confusable English pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#3,892
“logic” frequency rank
#5,708
“logical” frequency rank
9600
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature logic logical
Definition logical In agreement with the principles of logic; sequacious.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set logic and logical apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

5 ch
logic
7 ch
logical

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

logic and logical form a confusable pair in the English index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 2 extra letter(s) - “logic” sits inside “logical” - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 9600, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

logic is recorded at frequency rank #3,892, classified as anadj, pronounced /ˈlɒd͡ʒ.ɪk/. logical is at rank #5,708, tagged as anadj, pronounced /ˈlɒd͡ʒɪkəl/.

Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.

With a confusion score of 9600, this pair ranks #496,559 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Frequency comparison

logic#3,892
logical#5,708

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "logic" and "logical" be used interchangeably?
No, "logic" and "logical" have distinct meanings and cannot be swapped without changing the meaning of a sentence. Understanding the specific definition and context for each word is essential for correct usage.

Remembering logic vs logical

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “logic” entry
  • Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list